Norwich’s Darren Webster moved smoothly into the last eight of PDC William Hill World Championship after thrashing outsider Tony Alcinas 4-0 at the Alexandra Palace.

The 23rd seed went into the match against a man ranked outside the world’s 100 as hot favourite to progress and made his class tell in a one-sided encounter.

Webster was only ever seriously troubled in the third set, when he had to come back from two legs down to prevail, and quickly wrapped the match up after that minor scare to set up a last eight clash against either Jamie Lewis, who beat James Richardson 4-1.

“It doesn’t matter who you play you’ve got to go up there and play the board,” said Webster. “I’m really pleased with my performance, I’m chuffed with that.

“I’ve got no taller but I’m rolling back the years, what I lack in height I make up for in heart and passion.

“In the next round it’s irrelevant who I’m playing. People are saying you’re the only seed left but is that good or bad? All the seeds around me have dropped out so I can’t think about that.

“I’ve got one mission and that’s to get up there on that board and do my job.

“I’m just going to chill out and get ready for tomorrow for whoever, bring them on!”

Webster kicked off with a 15-darter to get the match under way and after Alcinas levelled he recorded a 148 checkout to go in front before clinching the set with a break.

A 14-darter did the damage in the second set, with a 72 finish grabbing another break before Webster took out 75 for the second set.

Alcinas finally found his range in set three to move 2-0 ahead but his 49-year-old opponent produced the perfect response by holding his throw, breaking back and then taking the decider to stretch his lead to 3-0. It was then a case of closing the match out and Webster duly won the fourth set 3-0 to book his place in the last eight for the second time, and the first since way back in 2007.

His win was built around his accuracy at the doubles, with 52 per cent of his chances being converted, while a solid average of 94.92, with three 180s, was more than enough to see off a man who had done well just to reach the last 16.